Safety binding metal for heel of ski boots



SAFETY BINDING METAL FOR HEEL OF SKI BOOTS Filed Nov. 4, 1968 n Q 917 21s 15 BY V lwwm United States Patent Int. Cl. A63c 9/00 US. Cl. 280-11358 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A binding for the heels of ski bootsincludes a base plate and a cover plate secured together in spacedrelation to provide guide means for the base of a channelshaped slidablemember whose upper edges are provided with downwardly turned flanges. Anexterior casing is pivoted at its rear end to a first pivot on thismember and its forward end carries a heel bracket and an angle forengagement by the heel of a ski boot. A pair of slidable plates aremounted against the flanges of the channel-shaped member, being retainedby the down turn upper edges. An operating lever is pivoted to the firstpivot and has a convex end engaged in concave recesses in the twoslides. A convex cam is pivoted, at a second pivot, to the exertiorcasing and, at a third pivot, to the two slides. This cam engages aconcave cam pivoted at a fourth pivot to the two slides and having aprojection engaged in a compression spring whose other end is engagedwith a rear portion of the exterior casing. A second spring is securedbetween the cover plate of the guide means and the base of thechannel-shaped memher to exert a tension stress moving thechannel-shaped member forwardly. The convex cam and the concave cam,together with the first-mentioned spring, operate in the nature of atoggle mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a safetybinding for the heels of ski boots.

The object of the present inventtion is to provide a safety binding forthe heels of ski boots having a structure wherein an exterior casing,comprising a heel bracket and an angle, is pivoted to a first slidablemember at a first point of contact, and is normally operative to berotated about said first contact point, through some medium against thepower of compression effected by a first spring. Moreover, to effectclamping of the ski boots, the binding itself is operated to press theski boots forwardly by the tensile stress of a second spring and throughthe medium of the heel bracket. A convex cam member is pivoted movablyto the exterior casing at a second point of contact, as well as pivotedat a third point of contact between second sliding members on both ofthe right and the left hand sides, a concave cam member engages withsaid convex cam member is fitted within the first spring by means of aprojection thereof, as well as being pivoted at a fourth point ofcontact between both of said second slidable or sliding members orslides. Additionally, space is provided for the first slidable member tobe displaceable both in the forward and rearward directions by guidemeans in which the bottom of siad member is interposed. The secondspring is mounted between a boss of the covering plate of the guidemeans and a boss projecting from the bottom part of the first slidablemember for geneating tensile stress. Both second slidable are insertedby sliding action to be in engagement with respective down turnedflanges or lips provided on the upper edges of the first slidablemember, and are mounted between said flanges and the covering plate soas to be movable at the first point of contact, relative to the firstslidable member as well as to be slidable both in the forward andrearward directions responding to rotation of a lever engageabletherewith by means of a boss, which causes tensile stress engaged withconcave portions formed in both second slidable members.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of the present inveniton, atypical exemplary form of an embodiment thereof will now be describedwith reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a heel binding forski boots relating to the present invention showing the fastenedcondition thereof and taken along the longitudinal center line of FIG.2.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of the binding takenalong the chain dotted line of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional side view of the bindingshowing the released condition thereof.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the binding in the fastenedcondition.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View, showingthe fastened condition thereof.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan View, corresponding to FIG. 5, but showing theparts in the fastened condition; and

FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 5, but showing the parts in thereleased condition.

As shown in the drawings, the present invention is directed to a safetybinding for heels of ski boots, wherein an exterior casing 3, comprisinga heel bracket 4 and an angle 5, is pivoted to a first slidable channelmember 2 at a first point of contact or pivot axis 1, is normallyoperative to rotate about said first contact point 1, through somemedium, against the power of compression effected by the first spring 6.Moreover, for clamping ski boots, the binding device itself is operatedto press the ski boots forwardly through tensile stress of a secondspring 7 and through the medium of the heel bracket 4. Furthermore, aconvex cam member 8 is pivoted movably to the exterior casing 3 at asecond point of contact or pivot axis 9, as well as pivoted at a thirdpoint of contact or pivot axis 10 movably between second slidablemembers 11 on the right hand side and the left hand side, respectively.A concave cam member 12 engaging with said convexed cam member 8 fitswithin a first spring 6 at a projection 13 as well as being pivoted at afourth point of contact or pivot axis 14 to be movably inserted betweenslidable members 11 on the right hand side and on the left hand side. Aspace 16 is provided, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for the member 2 to bedisplaceable both in the forward and the rearward directions with itsbase held between the plates 15 and 17. A second spring 7 is connectedbetween a boss 18 of the covering plate 17 and a boss 19 projecting fromthe base of member 2, for generating tension on the latter. Secondslidable members or slides 11 are positioned adjacent the right and theleft hand sides of member 2 and are inserted by sliding action to be inengagement with the down turned lips 23 provided on the upper edges ofmember 2. Slides 11 are mounted between lips 23 and the covering plate17 to be movable, at the first point of contact 1, relative to rearwarddirections responsive to rotation of a lever 20. Lever 20 is engagedwith both slides 11 to the medium of a convex end or boss 22 engageablewith concave recess portions 21 formed in both slides 11.

The safety binding for heels of ski boots according to the presentinvention operates in a manner which will now be described. When theheel of the ski boot is pressed downwardly against angle 5, in thereleased position of the binding as shown in FIG. 3, exterior casing 3is rotated 3 about the first pivot axis 1 simultaneously with rotationof convex cam 8 about pivot axes 9 and 10 and in contact with concavecam 12. In combination with the pressure exerted by the first spring 6,this coaction of cams 8 and 12 results in a toggle action snapping theparts to the position shown in FIG. 1, wherein cam 8 is in fullengagement with cam 12. Slides 11 are displaced forwardly, sliding alongthe inner surfaces of inturned lips 23 of member 2. The movement of cam8 is terminated by its full engagement with cam 12, as shown in FIG. 1,to limit the downward movement of angle 5. As a result of the movementof cam 8, the first pivot axis 9, which was about level with the secondpivot axis 10' in FIG. 3, is moved to a point substantially lower thanthe second pivot axis 10, as will be apparent by examination of FIG. 1.This occurs in part due to the compressive force exerted by the firstspring 6.

The compressive force is transmitted to the heel bracket 4 through themedium of the cam members 8 and 12 for pressing the ski boots held bysaid bracket 4 simultaneously with the stepping-in action previouslydescribed. The position of a toe support or binding relative to theassociated heel binding, for a ski boot, is so selected that the skiboot is properly clamped, by pressing the heel against angle 5, whenangle 5 has been moved, by rotation of casing 3, to the position shownin FIG. 1. The second spring 7, the member 2 and cover plate 17, shownin FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, serve important functions during the describedoperation of the binding. If the heel of the ski boot were continuouslydisplaced further, a counter force on the binding from the ski boot heelis naturally generated, so that no further movement of the parts in aclamping direction occurs.

According to the illustration shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, theforegoing power influences the member 2 to be displaced through themaximum range of the space 16 by means of the base of member 2 beinginterposed between covering plate 17 and plate 15. Moreover at this timethe second spring 7, connected between the boss 18 of the covering plate17 and the boss 19 projecting from the base of member 2, is naturallystretched causing tensile stress so as to act against the foregoingdisplacement movement of member 2 and is further stretched to themaximum thereof upon completion of the step-in movement and terminationof sliding movement. Thereby strong tensile stress is generated betweenthe covering plate 17 and the member 2, which results in a similartensile stress between the base plate connected to the former and theexterior casing 3 connected to the latter. All these tensile stressesact as reaction forces to press the ski boots forward, resulting inconversion into a force for clamping and binding action.

The binding in the fastened condition shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 isillustrated in its inactive condition, having no ski boots actuallyinstalled thereon, so that the slides 11 are nearer to the boss 18 ofthe covering plate 17 by means of the tensile stress exerted by secondspring 7. Consequently, a space 25 is performed in plate 17 for limitedmovement of boss 19 extending from the base of member 2. In cooperationwith the space 16, this provides for backward sliding movement of slides11 when the ski boot is engaged with the binding device.

In such a manner as mentioned above, the 'heel clamping and bindingdevice for the ski boots is able to fulfill its function completelythrough cooperation with the associated toe bindings of the ski boots.In case the binding device is to be released as an optional occasiondemands, the metal lever 20 is pushed manually or with a stock at anaperture 24 provided on the front end thereof. The lever 20 is rotatedabout the first pivot axis 1 so that its end 22, facing the recesses 21in slides 20, is swung clockwise. This draws slides 11 rearwardly alongthe respective down turned lips 23, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in such amanner as to effect relative sliding movement between member 2 andcovering plate 17. By this process, the

convex cam member 8 is subjected to rotation at the third pivot axis 10.Accordingly the exterior casing 3 is caused to start to swing upwardlyabout the first pivot axis 1. When cam member 8 is moved to the positionwhere the second pivot axis 9 thereof is raised to a position abovealignment with the axis of spring 6, the rotational moment influencingcam member 8 changes so that exterior casing 3 is made to move abruptlyupwardly. This is simultaneously accompanied with displacement of heelbracket 4, causing the ski boot to be released from clamping and to befreed.

Furthermore the foregoing function makes it possible for theabove-mentioned releasing action to be very easily and simply carriedout with high dynamic efficiency through the multually assis tingmovement of interconnection caused by the interaction of both of metallever 20 and slides 11 which latter move in translation between member 2and the covering plates 17 According to the foregoing, when the heel ofthe ski boot is subjected to stresses such as to effect injury to theskier, by accidental and unexpected trouble during skiing, heel bracket4 is released by the strong shock and without any dynamic supplement bythe mechanism. This causes rotation of exterior casing 3 about firstpivot axis 1, as well as the release of cam member 8 from cam member 12against the compression stress of first spring 6. The release is in sucha manner as to force spring 6 upwardly, resulting in effectinginstantaneouly the release movement previously explained.

In such a manner, the exterior casing 3 is widely opened and the skiboot is released from the clamped and bound condition in an emergency,for protecting the human body from injury.

From the standpoints of clamping and binding functions, releasing actionand safety protection, the heel binding of the invention is veryelficient and advantageous, as well as being simple in construction.Thus, the heel binding comprises the interacting parts including covering plates 17, channel-shaped member 2, the inturned lips 23 of member2, the slides 11, and the lever 20 cooperable with the recesses 21.

It will be appreciated that the plate 15 is formed with suitableapertures so that it may serve as a mounting plate for securement to theupper surface of a ski, thereby mounting the heel binding and clampingdevice on the ski.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety binding for the heels of ski boots comprising, incombination, a mounting plate for securement to a ski; a cover platesecured to said mounting plate and spaced from the latter between itsends to define, with said mounting plate, guide means; a channel memberhaving its base slidably engaged in said guide means and havingrelatively elongated down turned lips along the upper edges of itsflanges; a pair of substantially planar slides juxtaposed to the innersurfaces of respective flanges and slidably retained between theassociated lips and said cover plate; an exterior casing having sidewalls embracing respective flanges of said channel member and carrying,on its forward end, a step for engagement with a ski boot heel andbracket means for clamping such heel; means pivotally mounting saidcasing on said channel member for pivoting about a first substantiallyhorizontal pivot axis adjacent the rear end of said casing; togglemechanism operable to bias said casing to either a heel release positionor a heel clamping position, said toggle mechanism including cam meanspivoted to said casing and to said slides about spaced pivot axes, and acompression spring engaged between said cam means and the rear end ofsaid casing; and means selectively operable to move said slidesrearwardly to release said binding.

2. A safety binding for the heels of ski boots, as claimed in claim 1,in which said cam means includes a first cam pivotally connected to saidcasing about a second pivot axis and pivotally connected to said slidesabout a third pivot axis; and a second cam engaged with said first camand pivotally connected to said slides about a third pivot axis, saidsecond cam being engaged with said compression spring.

3. A safety binding for the heels of ski boots, as claimed in claim 2,in which said first cam has a pair of convex ends and a concave recessin its side surface between said convex ends; said second cam beingprovided with a concave recess engaged with the convex end of said firstcam pivoted to said slides, and a convex portion adjacent said concaverecess engageable in the concave recess of said first cam.

4. A safety binding for the heels of ski boots, as claimed in claim 2,in which said second cam has a projection engaged within saidcompression spring, which latter is a coil spring.

5. A safety binding for the heels of ski boots, as claimed in claim 1,including a second spring, in the form of a tension coil spring,connected between said cover plate and said channel member and biasingsaid channel member in forward direction.

6. A safety binding for the heels of ski boots, as claimed in claim 1,in which said selectively operable means comprises a lever pivotedintermediate its ends to said channel member for pivoting about saidfirst pivot axis; said lever having an operating end projecting from 6said binding and a second end engageable with said slides.

7. A safety binding for the heels of ski boots, as claimed in claim 6,in which said second end of said lever is convex and said slides areformed with recesses arranged to receive said second end upon pivotingof said lever.

8. A safety binding for the heels of ski boots, as claimed in claim 3,in which said casing is moved to the heel clamping position by pressureof a heel on said step; said second pivot axis, in the clamping positionof said casing, being disposed below the center line of said coil springand, in the released position of said casing, being disposedsubstantially on the level of said center line of said coil spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,125,349 3/ 1964 Schweizer.3,317,217 5/1967 Poiger. 3,325,178 6/1967 Reuge et al. 3,366,394 1/9168Shimizu. 3,391,944 7/ 1968 Shimizu. 3,447,812 6/ 1969 Kato.

LEO FRIAGLI-A, Primary Examiner M. -L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner

